South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1887-06-10

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door for me, informed mo that s'thcy
was all out-missus and Mrs. Porter
gone a-driving, Miss Lotiie Mt dancing
school, and Miss Sophie just stepped
out for little while and left Miss Tiny
asleep in he. room"
The packing case which had ordered
to be expressed i found just arrived and
deposited in the hall. Opening it in
search Of a particular article, / found on
top of tho box containing the presents for
the children. and amused myself with
arranging them on table, Lottie's on
one side and Tiay's on tho other, in
readiness for their appearance, knowing
that Lottie, at least, would have no rest
until they were in her possession.
Then feeling fatigued. / lay down on
lounge, and fell into half-dozs, from
which was awakened by shrek OF
rapture, and Lottie's arms thrown 50
tightly abcu! my neck rs to nearly
strange me.
"Oh, what dear good brotherl Are
they all for met"
Certainly not. You wouldn't wish
to be so greedy, would your The doll
and the Noah's ark, AMI half the bon
bons arc for Tiny. Run up stairs. and
if she is awake tell her to come down
and see Cousin Aleck, who has something
pretty for her."
Away flew Lottic, AMI in a moment
returned, flushed and excited.
"Shc's coming right down. told her
to hurry. And she's so s'priscd. But /
didn't tell her what you'd brought. 1
wonder il she'll like 'eml" added Lottie,
with little shade OF doubt crossing her
bright face.
Prcser thy light step crossed the hall,
and looking around / saw standing in
the doorway the slight and elegant fig
urc of young lady of perhaps twenty.
She was graceful and stylish-looking,
aad had lovely face, wearing at this
moment ali expression of hcsitating in
quiry.
l instantly arose. This must be the
fair young widow, Tiny's mother-but
so much younger looking aud fairer than
l had an idea of.
Lotto rushed forward and seized her
hand.
"Mrs. Portcr?' said, doubtfully, ad-
vancing.
The young lady smiled.
II am Tiny. l suppose you are"
ITS Aleck" cried Lottic. "And.
Alcck, she's Tiny. Why don't you shake
handsa'
Lottie might we'll be surprised at my
stupidity. There l stood, stock still.
staring at the young lady, who was re-
garding me ouriously.
''Lo.tie told me that you hal sent for
mc-that you wished particularly to sec
me-" she said, in half-doubtful, apollo.
gctic tone.
II did send for you; but must con-
fcsi that have been laboring under a
strange mistake. l had an idea that
Tiny was little girl"
She broke into laugh, and Lo.tic
said, with shocked expression:
why, brother Aleck, was that the
reason you brought her doll and a
Noah's ark2''
1fclt my face suddenly grow hot and
flushed, as the young lady's eyes wan
dcred to the articles in question, lying
conspcuously arrayed upon the table.
Then she looked at me. For an instant
her lips dimp.ed and quivered in the at
tempt to suppress her mirth, but the
next she broke into an irresistible fit of
laughter. in which was compelled to
join.
'Lottie," said, drawing her to me-
and speaking with intense gravity.
"why did you not tell me that cousin
Tiny was grown-up young ladyr
"Why, didn'tycu know1 Don't you
remember when sister Sophie wrote for
them to come, it was Tiny that wrote
back, because her mamma had head
achci And she said they would be here
Tuesday, and then we knew she wasn't
little girl"
mo, Lottic, your letter to me did not
give that important information. But
you did say that Tiny and you had fine
times in the garden"
80 we did had" interrupted Lottie,
stou'ly. We've put up the hammocka
and Sophie and Tiny read aloud there
She tells me fairy tclcs and makes my
dolls dresses"
'But dill you not tell me that she was
sorry that she had not brought her OWE
doll with herr"
eyes; because she has great, big
lovely French doll, the last one she ever
had; and she kept it to give to
some little girl, and she means tc
give it to me-"
'1}ut you said she loved French bon
bonsr continued with re doubled seri.
business.
Lottic drew forth pockethandkcr.
chief Of about six inches square, and
applied it to her eyes.
IL didn't mean TO make you think
she was a lit lie girl. She said she loved
bon hons"
"And so do, Lotto, and am not
ashamed TO confess it," said Tiny, still
laughing, and drawing tho child to her